Arch cradle shoe construction



Dec. 13, 1960 N. HACK ARCH CRADLE sHoE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 27, 1959ill:

FIG. I

FIG. 2

INVEN TOR NATHAN HACK FIG. 5

FIG. 3

IIIIIHN ATTORNEY United States Patent ARCH CRADLE SHOE CONSTRUCTIONNathan Hack, 537 San Vincente Blvd., Santa Monica, Calif., assignor ofone-third each to Morton Hack and Leonard Hack, both of Detroit, Mich.

Filed Nov. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 855,827

7 Claims. (Cl. :S6-8.5)

This invention relates to an arch cradle shoe construction and moreparticularly to an arch cradle having a band portion disposedtransversely of the shoe and suspended above the insole upon lateralflanges or extensions secured to the side walls of the shoe below theplane of the band portion.

The invention involves a band strip of resilient, cushioning, supportingmaterial, in its basic form, disposed tranvsersely of the shoe and abovethe insole within the area of the longitudinal inner and outer arches ofthe foot and rearward of the transverse arch. The band strip is arrangedin three sections which include the middle arch cradle in the open areaof the shoe to receive the foot arch, and the two side extensions orflanges at the ends thereof which are secured to the shoe side walls. Itis highly desirable but not absolutely necessary that the band striphave an elastic property or characteristic so that as the foot bends andexes in and with the shoe, the arch cradle is in constant supportingcontact with the foot. A modified form of the band strip provides for aT-arrangement wherein a stem connected to the transverse arch cradleportion extends rearwardly to the rear heel wall and is there secured insupporting relationship to the heel.

It is an object of the invention to provide an arch cradle for the footmounted on the side Walls of a shoe by flanges or extensions securedbelow the plane of the arch cradle. Another object is the provision ofsuch an arch cradle having an elastic characteristic permitting thecradle to constantly move with the foot arch in supporting relationshipthereto. A further object is to provide an arch cradle with a rearwardextension secured to the rear heel wall whereby additional resilientsupport is provided for the heel.

These and additional objects of the invention and features ofconstruction will become more clearly apparent in the description givenbelow, in which the terms used are employed for purposes of descriptionand not of limitation.

Reference is here made to the drawing annexed hereto, made an integralpart of this specification, and in which Fig. l is a perspective view ofa shoe embodying the inventive arch cradle construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view substantiallyon the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 2a is a view substantially identical to Fig. 2, except showing thesecurement of the band strip extensions in a slightly dierentarrangement.

Fig. 3 is another view similar to Fig. 2, showing yet anotherarrangement for securing the band strip extensions in a shoe having noside wall counter.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying a modified arch cradleconstruction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional View substantiallyon the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

As shown particularly in Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, the shoecomprises an upper 12, an insole 14, a counter 16 mounted in side walls18, 18 of the upper, and

Nice

conventional soling 20 and heel 22. Secured transversely of the shoe andabove the plane of the insole 14 is an arch cradle band strip 24 havingan arch cradle portion 26 and extensions or anges 28, 28 at each endthereof.

The arch cradle strip 24 is positioned within the area of thelongitudinal arches of the foot, rearwardly of the transverse arch, inorder to provide additional or required support to the arch. This area,as shown in the several views in the drawing and particularly in Figs.l, 4 and 5, is that area in and adjacent the heel breast line. Thetransverse strip 24 is arranged with its flanges 28, 28 disposed throughslotted openings 36, 30 in the side wall lining 32 in a downwardlydirection and below the plane of the arch cradle portion 26, where theflanges are secured to the counter 16 by stitching 34. Although notshown the anges 28, 28 may extend into the area under the side edges ofthe insole 14, should additional securement be desired or required.

The arch cradle band strip 24 has the function of providing resilient,cushioning, and supporting assistance to the longitudinal inner andouter arches of the foot. It is therefore desirable to embody in thestrip 24 such features as resiliency and longitudinal and transversestrength by way of its materials. An elastic band having resilientrubber or plastic threads interwoven with textile or fabric threadsappears to have many of the desirable properties required. A softresilient leather or leatherlike material may be employed. It ispossible that synthetic yarns and woven materials or nonwoven materialswill furnish the necessary resilient, cushioning and supportingcharacteristics here described. An operative material is a closely wovencotton fabric elastic band having rubber bers or threads interwoven inthe fabric of the band.

As is shown in Fig. 2a, the arch cradle band strip 24 is secured to theside walls i8, 18 by stitching 34 passed through the side wall, thecounter 16, the flange 2S, and the lining 32 at each end of the archcradle portion 26 therebelow. This construction permits the applicationof the arch cradle concept in shoes which are already fabricated. Theslotted opening 30 is cut into the lining 32 and the arch cradle flange28 introduced therethrough to a position below the plane of the archcradle portion 26. When in this position the stitching is then applied.

Where a shoe is constructed without a counter, as in Fig. 3, the archcradle iianges 2S, 28 are secured by stitching 34 to the lining 32 andby a suitable adhesive 36 to the inside surface 38 of the side walls 18,18.

It will be observed in viewing Figs. 2, 2a and 3 that the arch cradleband strip anges 28, 28 are substantially vertically arranged in thenature of piers to support each end of the arch cradle portion 26. Suchdisposition of the elements is a more proper functional arrangement. Inthe prior art, attempts to provide support for the arch were made bysecuring the arch cradle to the side walls above the plane of the archcradle portion, or to the lacing strfps of the upper, or by enwrappingthe foot in the area of the arches and then supporting the wrapper atthe lacing. Such constructions are considered ineficient or unworkablein that one merely encases the foot without supporting it. To properlysupport the arch of the foot, the upbearing must come from below and befounded upon the shoe structure below the plane of the arch cradleportion. This is the construction and function of the instant invention.

Another advantage of the inventive construction here disclosed is thatthe arch cradle portion 26 adapts itself to every contour of the footarch without requiring any special design. The arch cradle tends toresist rolling over of the foot by providing side elements in the archcradle portion 26, when the foot is in the shoe, above il the plane ofthe foot arch that tend to oppose rotation of the foot, thus achieving abalancing corrective effect for persons Vhaving this tendency.

The arch cradling strip of material embodies a feather- Weight tootbalancing feature that stabilizes the foot ithin the shoe withoutcrowding the foot as `when an arch supporting element is inserted intothe shoe.

A further advantage of the arch cradle construction is to elevate thetransverse arch rearward of the metatarsal heads so that pivoting of thefoot in walking or running is improved. The described arch cradle bandstrip supports the foot in a hammock, bridging fashion, and stabilizesthe foot while standing orwalking. The construction heredisclosedembodies an economical structure that can bey built into substantially90% of current Y production shoes for men, women andrfor youngstersgrowing feet.

A modication of the basic arch cradle construction is that illustratedin. Figs. 4 andf5, wherein the shoe i0 is provided withan arch cradleband strip Sti having a transverse arch cradle portion 52, extensions orllanges 54, 54 at the ends thereof, and a stem portion 56 runninglongitudinally of the shoe toward theheel wall 5S, substantiallymedially from the center of the portion 52, and having an extension orfrange et? at the end thereof. The transverse arch cradle anges S4, 54are secured as above described for the arch cradle band strip 26. Thestem portion 56, as shown in Fig. 5, is disposed through the opening inthe lining 32, the flange o being arranged downwardly below the plane ofthe opening 52 and secured by stitching 34 to the counter 16. The end ofthe stem portion 56 adjacent the lining 32 is elevated above the planeof the transverse arch cradle portionl S2, to provide more support forthe foot and to further assist in elevating the arch. Of course, thevarious arrangements for securing the franges of the strip 26 are alsoapplicable for securing auges 54, e and 60 of the strip 50, and it is tobe understood that these arrangements and combinations ofthe strip 50and the shoe kupper i2 are embodied as described above.

it is desirable to fabricate the arch cradle band strip 50 in a singlepiece, in order that the foot arch and heel be mostcornfortably seatedin the shoe, however the stem portion 56 may be produced separately fromVthe transverse arch cradle portion 52 and secured thereto by sewing orother suitable means well known in the art to which the inventionpertains.

.Having described the invention in its simplest terms, it is to beunderstood that the details of construction may be changed and varied ingreater or lesser degree without Y departing from the essence of theinvention defined in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. In an arch supporting shoe, an upper structure, an arch cradle bandstrip having an arch cradle portion disposed in a horizontal andsubstantially parallel plane above the insole of said shoe=in the areaof the heel breast line, said band strip having flanges extendingdownwardly of the planeof'said arch cradle portion and securedin saidupper structure, 'whereby said-arch cradle portion is bridged betweensides of'said upperr structure.

2. yIn an arch supporting shoepan `upper-structure, an arch cradle bandstrip having anV arch cradle portion disposed in a horizontal-andrsubstantially' parallel plane above the insole of said shoe inthearea of the heel breast line, said band strip having flanges extendingdownwardly of the plane of said arch cradle portion and secured to saidupper structure, whereby said arch cradle portion is a bridge supportedon said upper structure.

3. 'The structure defined in claim 2, and in which'said upper structureis provided with al counter, said flanges being secured to said counter.

4. The structure defined in claim 2, and in which said `upper structureis provided with an outer wall and a lining for said outer wall, saidanges being disposed between said outer wall and said lining Aandsecured to said lining.

5. The'structure dened in claim 2,'and in which said flanges are securedto said upper structure by stitching passed through said upper structureand said anges.

6. in an arch supporting shoe, an upper structure, an arch cradle bandstrip having va principal arch cradle portion and a connecting stemportion secured normal to said arch cradle portion rearwardly thereof,said arch cradle and stern portions being secured to said upperstructure above the plane of the insole of said shoe and in the karea ofthe heel breast line, said cradle portion and said stem portion havingflanges extending-downwardly oi the plane thereof and secured to saidupper structure, whereby said arch cradle portion is a'bridge supportedVon said upper structure.

7. The structure dened in claim 6, and inwhich said upper structureisprovided with a counter, said flanges being secured to said counter.

References Cited in the tile of* this patent iUNITED STATES PATENTS1,650,000 Young Nov.`22, 1927 1,677,226 Banks July 17, 1928 2,188,182Gould Jan. 23, 1940 2,365,807 Dialynas Dec.'26, 1944 2,389,148 GrebowNov. 20, 1945 2,831,272 Sloat Apr. 22, 1958

